nurturing servant leaders in religious education - Scholarly ...
nurturing servant leaders in religious education - Scholarly ...
nurturing servant leaders in religious education - Scholarly ...
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
established an expanded <strong>in</strong>stitute programme to ensure that <strong>in</strong> addition to secular<br />
learn<strong>in</strong>g, as many adult students as possible also had the opportunity to become a<br />
“student of th<strong>in</strong>gs eternal.” (Institutes of religion, 1973, October, p. 8).<br />
In 1970 the First Presidency, or the highest members of the govern<strong>in</strong>g body of the<br />
Church, issued this statement regard<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>stitute to be read <strong>in</strong> Sunday congregations<br />
throughout the world,<br />
To meet the need for <strong>religious</strong> <strong>in</strong>struction for our youth, we have established<br />
Institutes of Religion convenient to more than 200 junior colleges, four-year<br />
colleges, and universities. In these Institutes our young people may receive<br />
<strong>religious</strong> tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g comparable with that received <strong>in</strong> Church schools and at the same<br />
time enjoy the benefits of liv<strong>in</strong>g at home, at less expense, with the added<br />
advantages of the protection, guidance, and companionship of their families (as<br />
cited <strong>in</strong> Institutes of religion, 1973, October, p. 9).<br />
Promised bless<strong>in</strong>gs for participation.<br />
Although no automatic Church <strong>leaders</strong>hip positions are given to graduates of the<br />
<strong>in</strong>stitute programme, a promise is given to students that as they faithfully put their<br />
<strong>religious</strong> studies first <strong>in</strong> their lives, they will receive added bless<strong>in</strong>gs with their<br />
pursuits <strong>in</strong>side and outside of the Church. Perry (1998, August), current member of<br />
the church’s govern<strong>in</strong>g body, made up of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the<br />
Twelve Apostles, had this to say regard<strong>in</strong>g the mission of the sem<strong>in</strong>ary and <strong>in</strong>stitute<br />
programmes,<br />
I know the power that comes from associations <strong>in</strong> the sem<strong>in</strong>ary and <strong>in</strong>stitute<br />
programmes. It has enriched my life, and I know it will do the same for you. It<br />
will put a shield of protection around you to keep you free from the temptations<br />
and trials of the world. There is a great bless<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> hav<strong>in</strong>g a knowledge of the<br />
gospel. And I know of no better place for the young people of the Church to ga<strong>in</strong> a<br />
special knowledge of sacred th<strong>in</strong>gs than <strong>in</strong> the <strong>in</strong>stitute and sem<strong>in</strong>ary programmes<br />
of the Church (Perry, 1998, August, p. 7).<br />
The CES <strong>in</strong> Aotearoa/New Zealand.<br />
Aotearoa/New Zealand was to become one of the early recipients of the expand<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>religious</strong> <strong>education</strong> arm of the CES <strong>in</strong> 1970. The first Institutes of Religion outside of<br />
18